Page 26 of Married to her Kilted Enemy

He looked startled by the question. Then he shrugged and looked at her, his dark eyes shing with sincerity.

“Maddison, I never wanted tae be at war with ye. I hate it when we fight. It makes me miserable, and I ken ye’ve been miserable too. I ken ’tis hard, what with our past and all, but we’re married now, and I want things tae work between us, even if it means I have tae sleep on the floor for the rest of me life tae keep ye happy.”

“Oh,” she said, feeling rather small in the face of his humble generosity and earnestness. She could tell by his eyes that he meant every word. But what really bothered her was that she was not all sure she wanted him to go back to sleeping on the floor. She thought fast. “Well, ye must stay sleepin’ in the bed until Alana gives ye the all clear on yer concussion. I still have tae give ye the tonic, remember?”

She almost regretted her words when she thought she spied his lips curling up at the corners, again suspecting he was wearing her down deliberately by stealth. But if it was the beginnings of a smile, he soon stifled it, and she did not take back her suggestion.

“Thank ye, I appreciate that,” was all he said. The conversation was interrupted then as the servants arrived with the hot water, and Jess brought the tea tray. The fire was stoked until a good blaze warmed the room.

“I must have a shave,” Odhrán muttered once they were alone again, rubbing his bristly chin. He swung his long legs out of the bed and stood up. A waft of his scent, sandalwood and woodsmoke, enveloped Maddison as she leaned across to the tea tray and took the cup Jess had poured for her. She settled back against the pillows and blew across the hot liquid before sipping it. It was sweet and reviving, laced with the honey she loved.

While she drank her tea, she watched her husband covertly. He wore only his shirt, and she could glimpse the outline of his body as he moved to the wardrobe and fetched himself a clean shirt. He was massive and powerful, the muscles in his arms and shoulders rippling as he stretched and yawned himself awake. Despite herself, the sight sent a hot thrill chasing up her spine.

“Ye might want tae avert yer eyes,” he warned her over his shoulder as he went to the washstand. Maddison pretended to do so, but she could not help peeping at him. The breath left her body, her eyes flying wide open, when he suddenly, in one swift movement, pulled the dirty shirt over his head, dropped it on the floor, and stood naked, his back to her.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Ahot flush ran over every inch of Maddison’s body, and the next quarter of an hour proved to be the most fascinating of her life. Her eyes never left him as she allowed them to wander over his nakedness, his broad, muscle-packed back that narrowed down to his waist, and most entrancing of all, the high, taut buttocks and long, powerful legs.

He combed his long hair and tied it up, out of the way, then doused himself in the hot water, washing his face and upper body thoroughly with a cloth lathered with soap. The pleasant smell drifted to Maddison’s nose, becoming part of a whole vignette in her mind that she knew she would never forget, along with their kiss.

Next, she watched with rapt concentration as he shaved, his large hands wielding the razor deftly as he scraped away the stubble and finally washed away the soap. She was disappointed when he dried himself off and slipped his clean shirt on.

When he turned to face her, she saw the black and blue mark standing out on his forehead. She hissed and said, “That’s a nasty bruise. Where’s yer bandage?”

“I took it off. There was nae need fer it,” he told her, crossing to the wardrobe and selecting a fresh pair of socks and trews before pulling them on.

“Well, I just hope it doesnae get infected,” she said, guessing it hurt his pride to be seen with the bandage on. To her secret regret, his body began to disappear beneath his clothing as he tucked in his shirt, buckled on his kilt, and pulled on a coat, closing his cuffs. It perplexed her that the husband she had rejected seemed to grow more handsome and desirable to her with every passing day. She could not help wondering what it would be like to touch him all over, as a wife would, and have him touch her too. A flicker of desire ran hotly through her belly at the thought, but she did her best to ignore it, feeling as though a battle was going on inside her.

How is it that he has this strange effect on me? If he keeps bein’ so nice and makin’ me feel this way, how will I ever keep him at a distance? I’ve even said he can sleep in the bed!

She did not know the answer to those questions, so she sighed and said, “I suppose I had better change fer dinner.” She had just replaced her teacup on the tray and gotten off the bed when the cozy, domestic scene was once again interrupted by a knock at the door. They looked at each other, for the knock had a sense of urgency to it they both felt. She stopped what she was doing.

“Come in,” Odhrán said, pausing, about to pull on his boots. The door opened, and Liam entered the room, his face etched with concern. He nodded to Maddison, and she nodded back. She glanced at Odhrán and noticed he was instantly on the alert when he took in Liam’s expression.

“What is it? Has something happened? Is it another attack?” He asked, his demeanor tense.

“Nay, ’tis nae an attack, but Rollo is here, with his wife,” Liam replied.

“What?! What the hell is he doin’ here? What’s his game this time?” Odhrán blurted out, savagely shoving his feet into his boots and standing up.

“He says they’ve come tae congratulate the happy couple because they could nae make it tae the wedding.”

Maddison saw the fury on Odhrán’s face, but she had no idea what they were talking about.

Rollo? Who on earth is Rollo?

If Odhrán already had good reason to hate his cousin, he hated him ten times more at that moment. Just as he felt he was making progress with Maddison, his spirits buoyed by her insistence that he sleep in the bed, at least until Alana gave him a clean bill of health, Rollo had to rear his ugly head and ruin things.

“He was nae invited, and he well kens it, the bastard,” he growled, fury knotting in his belly. Dashed were his hopes of a quiet dinner with his wife—the first when she might actually speak to him. “I had nae wish tae see the connivin’ dog at me weddin’.”

“Aye, I ken,” Liam said. “So, what will ye dae?”

“Let him stew, turnin’ up uninvited. But ye’d best put them in the parlor and give them some refreshments. I’ve naethin’ against his poor wife and have nae wish tae be inhospitable tae her. Then, when it is time, they can be accompanied into the great hall for dinner,” Odhrán replied through gritted teeth, buckling on his sword belt as if furious with it.

“I’ll go and see tae it,” Liam said and quickly left.

“What is happening? Who is this Rollo?” Maddison asked Odhrán, looking bewildered. “Shall I still dress fer dinner?”